PAL trims number of flights

Philippine Airlines (PAL) said that it has reduced flight frequencies to its several domestic destinations amid the exodus of its pilots and the onset of the so-called lean season in local travel. In a statement over the weekend, PAL said that it had submitted to the Civil Aeronautics Board a list of routes with reduced frequencies.

These routes include those going to and from Manila and the cities of Ozamiz, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa and Cebu.

Meanwhile, Cebu-Davao-Cebu flights will be temporarily suspended and will be reinstated during the peak season.

Jaime Bautista, PAL president and chief operating officer, explained the suspension, “Capacity rationalization is routinely done in anticipation of lower passenger volume, especially tourists, during the rainy months from August to November. It also coincides with the reduced number of PAL pilots who left for jobs abroad.”

The lean-season schedule will take effect beginning August 9 and will be in force until November 30.

Bautista said that it is during the lean season when airlines normally introduce promotional programs to entice passengers to travel.

He added that it is also the time of year when the flag-carrier schedules major maintenance checks on its fleet.

The new flight schedule that will be published in major dailies is also available at the PAL website at www.philippineairlines.com.

According to PAL management, it was optimistic that it could resolve its labor problems and arrive at a productive solution during scheduled talks with the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) and PAL Employees Association (Palea) this week.

“We are coming to the table with the best intention of fruitfully resolving the issues with the flight attendants and stewards as well as Palea,” Bautista said also over the weekend.

The PAL management and Fasap officials will meet at the Department of Labor and Employment’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Manila on their collective bargaining agreement.

Bautista said that the PAL management was eager to find common grounds with the flight attendants and stewards, adding that the company recognizes the aspirations of its workers for competitive remuneration and benefits.

“We’re open to a dialogue. It’s just give-and-take. I hope we will all come to the negotiating table with open minds and hearts as we discuss issues,” he said.

“I know the families of our employees are anxious too and want to see the issues resolved amicably and as promptly as possible. We share their concern,” Bautista added.

He said that he was still hoping that the 25 pilots who supposedly left without notice would meet the August 9 deadline to go back to work.

”PAL, the government and the entire nation are waiting for their return so they can render service not only to PAL but the general public,” Bautista added.

He said that PAL was yet to decide the exact course of action the airline management would take should the pilots fail to return. “We will study it carefully.”

Bautista appealed to PAL employees to understand the company’s situation, saying that it has been transparent in disclosing its financial condition.

“We are all aware that most airlines in the world, including PAL, have been affected and continue to be affected by the global recession and slowdown in travel,” he added.

Survival mode

Bautista said that the flag-carrier was trying to survive amid the harsh environment in the travel industry worldwide, aggravated by the continued rise in jet fuel prices, downgrade of the Philippines’ aviation safety rating to Category 2 status by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, the European blacklist of RP carriers and cut-throat competition.

“We hope our fellow PAL workers will understand that we are dealing with the worst crisis that hit the global airline industry, crippling even the giant airlines of developed economies,” he pointed out. –DARWIN G. AMOJELAR SENIOR REPORTER, Manila Times